Born and raised in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Mario Cruz is a Spanish Instructor with a deep commitment to the Spanish language and its historical and cultural development. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Washington in Seattle, with a focus on linguistics, grammar and vocabulary, Latin American literature, film, and fiction. He later completed a Master’s degree in Spanish at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, concentrating on language instruction methods, Spanish-English translation, literature, and applied linguistics.
Mario is particularly interested in how motivation enhances language learning, a principle supported by research in the field. As linguist Stephen Krashen notes, effective methods provide learners with engaging, understandable input in supportive environments, allowing students to develop language skills at their own pace.
In 2024, Mario was named the Higher Education Language Teacher of the Year by the Hawai‘i Association of Language Teachers (HALT), in recognition of his dedication to teaching excellence and innovation. He was also nominated for the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Innovation and Impact Showcase for his course LAIS 120, highlighting his use of student interaction and collaboration strategies to create an engaging, resource-rich learning environment.
In 2025, he was invited to serve as a panelist at the 39th Annual HALT Conference for the Teacher of the Year Panel, a session featuring past and present awardees discussing approaches to incorporating culture into language instruction.
Mario was previously nominated for the Excellence in Teaching award (2021) and invited to participate in the university’s Innovation and Impact Showcase (April 2021). His professional development includes a wide range of instructional approaches, such as active learning techniques, real-world learning experiences, creative and performance-based projects, inclusive classroom practices, innovative assessment strategies, collaborative learning environments, and the effective integration of educational technology.
Outside the classroom, Mario is passionate about music and theater, which often inform his creative approach to language instruction and student engagement. He incorporates creative expression and performance into classroom activities to enhance student participation and cultural understanding.
Spanish 1st, 2nd and 3rd year, Latin Amer & Iberian Studies – Islands/Islas &Global Exchange (LAIS120)
Office: Moore Hall 459 | Phone: (808) 956-3347
Email: mcz@hawaii.edu